The City of Rome

COLOSSEUM
It's the biggest amphitheatre ever built in the antiquity. It was started in 72 AD, by the emperor Vespasiano of the Flavia family, that is why it's also known as the “Amphiteatrum Flavium”. Some big tournaments of gladiators used to take place inside the building, venationes (fights with wild animals) and some naumachie also known as the fantastical navals battles. During the Renaissance a lot of materials were taken from the monument for the construction of palaces, bridges and the San Pietro's Basilica.

ROMAN FORUM
Situated in a valley surrounded by the hills, Palatino, Campidoglio and the Esquilino, it was a marsh and malaria infected area, which became after a while a trading place. Here you can see the Trajan Column, the Trajan Markets, the Forum of Augustus and the Forum of Nerva Forum of Caesar.

CASTEL S.ANGELO“St. Angel’s Castle” was erected in 139 AD by the emperor Adriano who built this mausoleum for himself and his and successors. Its initial funeral function was thus soon lost , yielding to that of a castellum. The popes used this building as a residence, especially as a place of defence of the Vatican, moreover as the seat of the archives and the pontifical treasure. From the terrace you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city.

ST. PETER'S BASILICA
Emperor Constantino ordered the construction of a basilica above the sepulchre of the apostle and the construction ended in 349 AD. but trough the Middle Ages the building fell down in ruins, but it took much time to obtain this masterpiece, and several architects of the Renaissance decorated the place in such a rich way. The edifice has titanic dimensions: the 1614 façade by Carlo Maderno is 114 metres wide and 45 metres high, it opens on the square designed by Bernini with the beautiful symmetrical colonnade, and the famous dome planned by Michelangelo.

Address: Piazza San Pietro / Ticket: free / Phone: 0669883712

VATICAN MUSEUMThe extraordinary richness of these museums is a must for everyone visiting Rome. The collections are displayed in geographical and chronological orders and cover the art of ancient Egypt, of medieval Christian Italy, modern religious Expressionism, and contemporary religious art.A must see is the Sistine Chapel, the “crown jewel” in the Vatican Museum, decorated with frescoes by the most important artists of the 15th and 16th centuries, including Michelangelo’s and Raffaello’s masterpieces.

PANTHEON
This temple was dedicated to all gods of pagan Rome. Marco Vipsanio Agrippa, Augusto's favourite son in law, built it between 27 and 25 BC, to celebrate his victory against the Persians. The original rectangular shape was modified after two fires when Adriano rebuilt it in a circular shape in AD 125. That is why it became known as the “Rotonda”

ARA PACIS
The Altar of Peace was realized by Cesare Ottaviano Augusto between 13 and 9 BC, to celebrate the reign of peace all over the Mediterranean region as a result of his victories in the Spanish and Gaelic campaigns. The monument consists of an enclosure with an altar inside.The surfaces are adorned with sculpted reliefs of Carrara marble, in which several members of the imperial family are recognizable.

GALLERIA BORGHESE
The Palace within Villa Borghese, also known as the Casino Borghese, houses the Museum and the Gallery. The Museum contains items that are among the most important ones in the world. You can admire a lot of Renaissance and neo-classic sculptures. Some items were restored by Bernini, such as the famous “David”. In the Gallery you can admire the paintings of the greatest Italian and foreign artists of the 17th and 18th century. The real masterpieces of the Museum are certainly Caravaggio's works, among them the David with the head of Goliath.

MUSEI CAPITOLINI
They are divided in 2 buildings (Palazzo Nuovo e Palazzo dei Conservatori). The first is dedicated mainly to sculptures and it has sevral pieces of remarkable beauty. In the Emperors room there are 64 busts portraying roman emperors in cronological order. The second building, more ancient, you may admire, as well as sculptures, some marvellous paintings from artists such as Caravaggio, Rubens, Tiziano and Tintoretto all in one room on the second floor.